Madshus Olympian Kristin Størmer Steira (NOR) establishes professional ski team.
The former World Cup skier, multiple World Champion and Olympian is one of the key players behind the new Norwegian professional cross-country development project Team Telemark.
The team is a co-ed project, but will emphasize opportunities for female skiers. Team Telemark currently has a roster of 12 athletes, including Madshus racer Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes who was a part of the Norwegian National team last season. The team is still looking to add to the roster prior to the competition season.
Jostein Vinjerui, who is from Telemark and has produced a number of World Cup skiers as coach for the Norwegian national team through the regional project Team Nord-Norge, is the head coach for the new team.
While there are several privately funded professional teams on the long-distance circuit, Team Telemark is the first professional team aiming to provide opportunities for skiers pursuing regular FIS World Cup distances and events.